Turbo Fort

[jmkendall]

I just picked up the latest issue of Warbirds International. It has an article on the B-17 that was re-worked to use the RR Engines. Anyway, the first thing that got my attention were the pics of it, in its original paint. The pics are dim but it definitely had nose art. Similar to the many "Pistol Packing Mamas". Second, and I need a consensus here, is it my imagination or does it look like a painted out triangle on the Vert Stab? You can only make it out on one photo, but it seems obvious to me....but hey I've made my fair share of mistakes.

Was this a for real 8th AF vet? I know, I know, time to buy the newest "Final Cut"...

Joe

[jmkendall]

.....the silence is deafening.....is it just that everyone else knows something i don't...or has everyone let their subscription lapse........

Joe

[aerovin2]

Don't have the article or the photo, but I do have the 4th edition of Final Cut. TB-17F 42-6107 served in domestic training units from its delivery in July 1943 until it was transferred to the RFC in November 1945 at Altus, OK. I do see similar photos published in "Winged Majesty" from Jim Farmer's collection that clearly show nose art on the left side and what might be a name obscured by paint.

[Steve Birdsall]

A little off topic perhaps, but I believe that 42-6107 carried nose art by the same hand as that on 42-6153 Good Pickin, a trainer at Dalhart, Texas when this photo was taken.



And here's similar art on Caught In The Draft, photographed at Dalhart with 2/Lt Charles W. Mylius, Jr and his crew.



The common thread is certainly these very late Vega B-17Fs as trainers at Dalhart, so I think there's bound to be a photo of a crew standing in front of 42-6107 somewhere.